After learning who will make up these teams, it seems as though it will be
the same squads of last season that will battle it out during the next 90
games.

 
Runner-ups of the last baseball season, Villa Clara has it all to continue
on top but will have tough rivals like Ciego de Avila who are among the
best in Cuba according to statistics.

The Villa Clara Oranges as they are know, are once again confident of
their pitching stars Freddy Asiel Alvarez and Robelio Carrillo, champions
of the recently concluded Intercontinental Baseball Cup held in China
Taipei, but depend on the support of relievers like Luis Borroto, Yasmani
Hernandez and Yosvany Perez.

Veteran catcher Ariel Pestano will once again be behind the plate for his
team in what is called the Cuban national classic with its backup catcher
Yulexis La Rosa.

In the infield Villa Clara will be defended by shortstop star Eduardo
Paret forcing the promising Aledmis Diaz to fight it out with two “loaned”
shortstops for several series from Matanzas: Yandry Canto and Jefferson
Delgado.

Ciego de Avila will once again have a luxurious team, with excellent
combination of pitching and bating, led by Vladimir Garcia and Yorelvis
Charles.

Ciego de Avila who were left on the doorsteps of last year’s
championships, will also have Yorbis Borroto, Lisdey Diaz, Mario Vega,
Yoelvis Fiss, Isaac Martinez, Maikel Folch and Yander Guevera.
 

Both teams could be leaders of the eastern region, depending on how the
Villa Clara team and if Ciego de Avila the land of the pineapple can get
rid of the phrase used by many that said that “they cannot play under
pressure”.
 

There is also Santiago de Cuba and Las Tunas who will look to join the
playoffs in the eastern region. Santiago known for its solid team and Las
Tunas with its fearsome batters.
 

Santiago de Cuba, accustomed in qualifying for the playoffs and owners of
8 national championships, have Alexei Bell, Hector Olivera and veteran
catcher Rolando Merino, who are the RBI leaders.
 

Another veteran star Norge Luis Vera will lead the pitchers, one of the
team’s weaknesses due to serious injuries to Osmel Cintra and Yaumier
Sanchez which has taken them out of action.
 

Las Tunas, meanwhile, batting champions last season with an astonishing
328 batting average, will look for better pitching and maintain the hot
bats of Danel Castro, Alexander Guerrero, Joan Carlos Pedroso and company.
 

We should not rule out Granma and Guantanamo in joining the top four in
the east as both teams have renowned figures.
 

Alfredo Despaigne and Yoennis Cespedes seem to be alone in the team, but
nothing is said until the last game.
 

Guantanamo on the other hand have Giorvis Duvergel, Dailier Moreira,
Joenni Southerán and Vismay Santos, great line up but weak in their
pitching except for Dailier Hinojosa and supersonic Alexander Rodriguez.
 

I do not want to be wrong and hope that Camaguey and Holguin joins the
list of those that will qualify in the eastern region because a game is
not over until the bottom of the 9th inning.
 

What we all know is that the eastern region has the offense (over .300
batting average among them last season) and who are anxious to win the
title taken away from them from a western team two consecutive years.